Pittsburgh

[Kinney]

It doesn't.



I keep forgetting about Mindful. Their house beers are solid and guest taps can border on fantastic. Never eaten there, though, so all the negative feels about their service is something that I can't corroborate. Bartenders are plenty attentive, though.

I live 5 minutes from mindful. Ive been there 3 times. The food and service are not good at all.

Well the piece of fried chicken I had was good but everything else sucked something awful.



House beers are okay. I like the Invisibility turbid ale.
Their tap list is normally fantastic though Id agree. They had pizza boy armour shark about a month or so ago. Been trying to find myself some ever since to no avail.

 

[hornydevil]

I need to get my hands on some treehouse and alchmeist stuff. Ive never had a chance to even try heady topper. Noone will trade that stuff over on BA. fuckers

You're not missing out on anything. The learning curve for making these beers is a rather shallow one and the locals have caught up, IMO. Plus add the ensured freshness of local beer, which is essential for that "style", and there's no need to seek out that stuff unless you are really curious and want to throw away your hard earned money.

 

[chefduff2]

Good stuff so far today guys. We got a new guy, a dead guy, and a rehash of every topic discussed in this thread.

I think we forgot never talk **** about Fatheads head hunter.

 

[hornydevil]

I live 5 minutes from mindful. Ive been there 3 times. The food and service are not good at all. Well the piece of fried chicken I had was good but everything else sucked something awful.

Can you see this stuff improving over time?

Also, Helltown.

 

[Kinney]

You're not missing out on anything. The learning curve for making these beers is a rather shallow one and the locals have caught up, IMO. Plus add the ensured freshness of local beer, which is essential for that "style", and there's no need to seek out that stuff unless you are really curious and want to throw away your hard earned money.

I just wanna try it. Especially treehouse.

Ive read alot about how their releases go up there and it seems to be laughable. All the micros up in VT, CT, MA area seem to be pretentious as ****. I read one of them doesnt even let you bring in a used growler from them, they make you buy a new one every time lol

 

[jeevo]

Kinney, I live close to Mindful as well. I have a can of week old Heady Topper for you if you were interested.

 

[chefduff2]

ooh yeah. My favorite beer type.. this new so called NEIPA style.

Just got some Fuzzy Baby Ducks from a guy up north, very solid version of that style, but BG stuff is definitely better. If youve never seen the can its worth a google. Hilarious.


I need to get my hands on some treehouse and alchmeist stuff. Ive never had a chance to even try heady topper. Noone will trade that stuff over on BA. fuckers

It might be a bit, but if you can wait a month or so I'll try to help. I have 2 month old cams which I would send, but not sure if you care.

 

[Kinney]

Can you see this stuff improving over time?

Also, Helltown.

I think so. I drive by a bunch and it seems that the buzz has worn off, they dont seem to be as busy. So I think it was more getting their footing.

Ill go back sometime in the next few weeks likely. Still wont order food beyond maybe an appetizer.


Thoughts on spoonwood? I think their beers are all boring as ****.

 

[moarhops1]

Go **** yourself

 

[Kinney]

Kinney, I live close to Mindful as well. I have a can of week old Heady Topper for you if you were interested.

I would be eternally grateful

 

[Kinney]

It might be a bit, but if you can wait a month or so I'll try to help. I have 2 month old cams which I would send, but not sure if you care.

Id take any at this point, but if jeevo can come though then no worries

 

[hornydevil]

I just wanna try it. Especially treehouse.

I always look at this stuff like, "If someone has it at a tasting or if I'm in the area, I'll give it a shot, but I'm not going out of my way to get it."

Was in NYC last year at around this time and drank the ever loving **** out of all kinds of stuff from Other Half. Nothing since. Great beers, but there are great beers everywhere these days.

 

[OneDropSoup]

Thoughts on spoonwood? I think their beers are all boring as ****.

Great place (especially with kids), good food. I dig their beers, YMMV - have you had any of their barrel-aged stuff? Definitely not boring AF (antler furniture).

 

[kbuzz1]

Acetic is the good side of things. Nail polish remover (ethyl acetate) the bad.

Can't believe I'm engaging this...but are you stating this purely in the context of DL only or in general?

I've always known acetic acid or acetobactor to be the overly vinegary/cidery quality. Some is good, but they tend to produce an overabundance in their beer. And without any other added complexity, it tends to stand out to me as the only real "flavor" component. Same with Cascade, Upland, Avery and Bruery sours.

JK, HF, SARA and Fonta Flora are examples of sour beer producers that I feel make more complex, non-acetic sour beer. As well as lambic producers, obviously.

 

[moarhops1]

Also, Helltown.

It amuses me the way you knock breweries for inconsistency then praise Helltown. That's funny, funny like IPA that taste like burnt cantaloupe.

 

[hornydevil]

Thoughts on spoonwood? I think their beers are all boring as ****.

Like the guys who brew there, Steve and James, but their beers are solid at best and boring at worst. Never had anything I'd consider outstanding or horrible from them, though (haven't drank every one of their beers). Kinda stuck in the middle. Couple that with their location and the lack of personality of their digs and I just can't find a reason to visit.

 

[hornydevil]

It amuses me the way you knock breweries for inconsistency then praise Helltown. That's funny, funny like IPA that taste like burnt cantaloupe.

Admittedly, I haven't drank any of their beer for a while. Just haven't seen it on tap or cared if I did. Sorry to hear this about them, though.

 

[Kinney]

Like the guys who brew there, Steve and James, but their beers are solid at best and boring at worst. Never had anything I'd consider outstanding or horrible from them, though (haven't drank every one of their beers). Kinda stuck in the middle. Couple that with their location and the lack of personality of their digs and I just can't find a reason to visit.

Yeah thats a good description. Its a good spot for kids I would agree, and those pizzas they make actually are really good, but the food is overpriced. I did brunch there once and it wasnt good though.

I used to live in bethel when they opened and I still wasnt drawn to go back there much. Just pretty blah all around.

 

[hornydevil]

Can't believe I'm engaging this...but are you stating this purely in the context of DL only or in general?

DL specifically.

I've always known acetic acid or acetobactor to be the overly vinegary/cidery quality. Some is good, but they tend to produce an overabundance in their beer. And without any other added complexity, it tends to stand out to me as the only real "flavor" component. Same with Cascade, Upland, Avery and Bruery sours

I agree with you about the second bit, but there will ALWAYS be acetic acid formation in sour beer that has Brettanomyces in it, because brett plus oxygen equals acetic acid formation. No acetobacteria necessary. The question is, "Is that acetic acid formation above threshold" and "Is it far enough above threshold for brett to create ethyl acetate from it in high amounts"? I think that was essentially what you are saying, though.

JK, HF, SARA and Fonta Flora are examples of sour beer producers that I feel make more complex, non-acetic sour beer. As well as lambic producers, obviously.

Without getting into TOO much science here, (Kinney, they also hate science here) "complexity" comes from many places, but it mostly comes from recipe and fermentation technique. Some brewers are good at that, like the ones you mentioned, some are less so, like DL.

 

[nhindian1]

I'm torn between a short answer and a long one.

I'll try a bulleted technique:

1. Dennis is pretentious AF and subscribes to the craft beer misnomer that weird = good (see: ice cream, treasure chest yeast, etc.), which has really run it's course for me.
2. Their beer descriptions and public-facing communication in general is terrible and condescending.
3. Sour beer should not be double digits in ABV.
4. Their beer is generally extremely acetic and makes me dry heave.
5. They don't know how to make good beer.
6. Their beer is bad.

In conclusion, they make ****** beer. Which is a shame because their pricing might be the best in the city...probably have to though so as not to undercut their Shelton Bros contract.

They aren't even priced good. Anything that isn't their typical year-round stuff is over $7 for a 12ozer (I think) at the brewery.

 

[PSUMike]

I need to get my hands on some treehouse and alchmeist stuff. Ive never had a chance to even try heady topper. Noone will trade that stuff over on BA. fuckers

Don't waste your time with Trade House mediocrity. Brew Gentlemen growlers or Voodoo cans will usually get the job done though.

 

[jagoffbrewer1]

Sure it was a few pages ago but

> any Pittsburgh Alternative Station.

 

[jeevo]

Don't waste your time with Trade House mediocrity. Brew Gentlemen growlers or Voodoo cans will usually get the job done though.

Sure it was a few pages ago but

> any Pittsburgh Alternative Station.

We had this sticker on my family van back in the day. My dad picked a handful of them up from Music Oasis, which was a music store in the South Park shopping center. ******' A man. I miss the 90's.

 

[dtx00]

Admittedly, I haven't drank any of their beer for a while. Just haven't seen it on tap or cared if I did. Sorry to hear this about them, though.

Thought this was pretty well known for some time now. I always associate the kriek debacle with their fall from grace. Pretty sure the inconsistencies started before that though. I really missed on these guys. When I first had idle hands I pegged them as the next best Pittsburgh brewery. Was a fan for a while.

 

[Kinney]

I have literally never heard of that station..

I also have apple music so the only radio I listen to is sports talk

 

[dtx00]

Can't believe I'm engaging this...but are you stating this purely in the context of DL only or in general?

I've always known acetic acid or acetobactor to be the overly vinegary/cidery quality. Some is good, but they tend to produce an overabundance in their beer. And without any other added complexity, it tends to stand out to me as the only real "flavor" component. Same with Cascade, Upland, Avery and Bruery sours.

JK, HF, SARA and Fonta Flora are examples of sour beer producers that I feel make more complex, non-acetic sour beer. As well as lambic producers, obviously.

Since we like polarizing breweries today, which category do JO's sours fall into for you? Asking for a friend

 

[dtx00]

You a mountaineer??

Will Grier for heisman bitch!

Born and raised and reunited.

 

[hornydevil]

Thought this was pretty well known for some time now. I always associate the kriek debacle with their fall from grace. Pretty sure the inconsistencies started before that though. I really missed on these guys. When I first had idle hands I pegged them as the next best Pittsburgh brewery. Was a fan for a while.

That was, indeed, a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

 

[dtx00]

Sure it was a few pages ago but

> any Pittsburgh Alternative Station.

The precursor to the x.

It seems the internet doesn't acknowledge when they were 106.7 the x

 

[preluderl]

For **** sake.

TB decides not to give me notifications... I miss three god damn pages, including a Will Grier for Heisman? This Kinney guy and I are gonna be just fine.